I HAVE been saddened and disappointed to see letters arguing against immigrants, especially refugees and asylum seekers.

It is all too easy to blame such people for the difficulties caused by many complex factors across the world.

We were incomers to Bolton in 1970 and were immediately made to feel welcome. We later found out that Bolton particularly has a proud tradition of welcoming many different groups who have fled persecution abroad going back hundreds of years.

It is fashionable at the moment to use foreigners as scapegoats when societies have problems. It is perhaps "only human" to be fearful of people who seem different from ourselves, especially when we don't know them as individuals. But when you do get to know others you find we all have the same hopes, fears and needs and we have much more in common than divides us.

As a Methodist Christian I see all people as valuable children of God whether they know it or not and all have a great potential for goodness if given the opportunity.

When you investigate their backgrounds, most refugees have been forced from their homeland by war, famine or disaster and many have experienced untold horrors before they arrive here.

I am sure there are still plenty of Boltonians with a generous and welcoming spirit. Certainly there is plenty of co-operation and friendship between those of different communities which has been built up over the years by groups like the former community relations council and the splendidly active interfaith council.

I hope the majority of Boltonians will continue to work together for the common good and not encourage those who want to set people against each other.

C F Cresswell,

Brookside Close,

Bolton.